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Middle East Peace Programs

Initiatives Promoting Middle East Peace

A listing of programs of the Middle East Peace Initiative (MEPI) from 2003 to 2014. MEPI was launched with an international consultation convened by the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace, February 27-March 2, 2003, in Washington, DC, called Beyond Coexistence Toward a New Culture of Peace: Focus on the Middle East. Programs have included peace missions and fact-finding tours, service and youth activities, cultural programs, and conferences.

PEACE MISSIONS AND FACT-FINDING TRIPS

Peace Mission: “A Mission for Peace and Reconciliation”
Rome, Israel, May 12-19, 2003
132 participants from North America
FOLLOW-UP: Briefing at the United Nations, June 19, 2003

Peace Mission: “Peace Under One God”
Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza,  Sept. 16-24, 2003
122 participants from North America
FOLLOW-UP: Briefing at the United Nations, September 30, 2003

Peace Mission: “God’s Ideal Family: The Model for World Peace”
Israel, West Bank, Gaza, Oct. 18-24, 2003

Peace Mission: “Heart to Heart for Peace in the Middle East and the World”
Israel, West Bank, Gaza, December 1-23, 2003
Participants from 84 nations (20,000 attended peace rally in Jerusalem)
FOLLOW-UP: Briefing at the United Nations, January 19, 2004

Peace Mission: “Peace Under One God: A Mission of Peace and Reconciliation”
Jordan, Israel, West Bank, Gaza, March 30-April 6, 2000
120 participants from North America
FOLLOW-UP: Briefing at the United Nations, April 21, 2004

Peace Mission: “Women of Peace”
Israel, West Bank, Gaza, May 21-28, 2004
526 participants from 41 nations

Peace Mission: “Forging a Path to Peace and Reconciliation in the Middle East”
Israel, West Bank, Gaza, July 16-29, 2004
307 participants from 33 nations in Latin America and the Caribbean

Peace Mission: “Forging a Path to Peace and Reconciliation in the Middle East”
Israel, West Bank, Gaza,  August 7-20, 2004
300 participants from 34 nations in Oceania and Africa

Peace Mission: “Forging a Path to Peace and Reconciliation in the Middle East”
Israel, West Bank, Gaza, September 2-23, 2004
583 participants from Europe and Eurasia; 511 participants from North America

Peace Mission: “Forging a Path to Peace and Reconciliation in the Middle East”
Israel, West Bank, October15-28, 2004
409 participants from Asia

Peace Mission: “Forging a Path to Peace and Reconciliation in the Middle East”
Israel, West Bank, Gaza, November 5-18, 2004
138 participants from Africa, Oceania, Turkey and the US

Peace Mission: “Forging a Path to Peace and Reconciliation in the Middle East”
Jordan, Israel and the West Bank, March 29-April 5, 2005
80 participants from 4 nations
FOLLOW-UP: Briefing at the US Capitol, April 29, 2004

Peace Mission: “Innovative Approaches to Lasting Peace in the Middle East”
Israel, West Bank, Gaza, May 10-16, 2005
177 participants from 26 nations

Peace Mission: “Forging a Path to Peace and Reconciliation in the Middle East”
Jordan, Israel, West Bank, November 15-21, 2005
120 participants from North America and Europe

Peace Mission: “God’s Ideal Family: The Model for World Peace”
Jordan, Israel, West Bank, March 14-21, 2006
120 participants from North America and Europe

Peace Mission: “Peacebuilding and Human Development in the Middle East”
Jordan, Israel, West Bank, May 18-24, 2006
300 participants from North America, Europe, Korea and Japan

Peace Mission
Israel, West Bank, August 21-25, 2006

Peace Mission and Fact-Finding Tour
Israel, West Bank, October 20-25, 2006

European Fact-Finding Tour
Israel and West Bank, November 12-17, 2006

European Fact-Finding Tour
Israel and West Bank, December 4-9, 2006

European Fact-Finding Tour
Israel and West Bank, January 11-15, 2007

European Fact-Finding Tour
Israel and West Bank, February 9-14, 2007

Peace Mission
Israel, West Bank, April 10-16, 2007
200 participants from 40 nations

Peace Mission
Israel, West Bank, May 13-17, 2007

Peace Mission and Fact-Finding Tour
Israel, West Bank, June 22-27, 2007

Peace Mission and Fact-Finding Tour
Israel, West Bank, August 27-31, 2007
120 participants from the US and 60 from Europe

Peace Mission and Fact-Finding Tour
Israel, October 27-31, 2007
100 local participants

Peace Mission and Fact-Finding Tour
Israel, West Bank, December 4-9, 2007
170 participants from 41 nations

Peace Mission and International Youth Leadership Project
Israel, West Bank, March 10-16, 2008

Peace Mission
Israel, West Bank, May 25-30, 2008
70 participants from the US and Canada

Peace Mission and International Youth Leadership Project
Israel, West Bank, June 22-1 July, 2008

Peace Mission and International Youth Leadership Project
Israel, West Bank, July 1-16, 2008

European Fact-Finding Tour
December 4-9, 2008

Peace Mission and International Youth Leadership Project
Israel, West Bank, December 14-20, 2008

Peace Mission
Israel, West Bank, December 17-23, 2008

Peace Mission and International Youth Leadership Project
Israel, West Bank, June 21-July 4, 2009

Peace Mission and International Youth Leadership Project
Israel, West Bank, August 8-22, 2009

Peace Mission
Israel, West Bank, April 21-27, 2010

Peace Mission and International Youth Leadership Project
Israel, West Bank, July 26-August 3, 2010

Peace Mission
Israel, West Bank, August 20- 24, 2010

Peace Mission and Fact-Finding Tour
December 16-22, 2010
Leaders from Benin and Ghana

International Youth Leadership Project
Israel and Palestinian Territories, July 15-31, 2012
15 international participants and Israeli youth

10th Anniversary of the "Jerusalem Declaration"
May 14-18, 2013

10th Anniversary MEPI Pilgrimage for Peace
May 12-16, 2014

SERVICE AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Computers Donated for Palestinian and Israeli youth, in Gaza and Beit Shemesh

Service Projects in Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Israel, 700 participants from Europe and North America, December 20-22, 2003

Global Peacemakers Project, Jerusalem, Bet Shemesh and Haifa, Israel; Bethlehem, Palestine, July 13-August 11, 2004
21 participants from 8 countries, including Jews and Arabs for Israel

Religious Youth Service Project
21 participants from 10 nations and 3 religions, October 1-12, 2004
Um Al Ammad village, Salt, Jordan
Sponsors: Religious Youth Service, Women’s Federation for World Peace
Local Organizations: Jordan’s Higher Council for Youth, Greater Salt Municipality

Play Football Make Peace Tournaments
Gaza and Israel, December 2004-January 2005
8 teams each in Gaza and Israel
Sponsor: WANGO Play Football Make Peace
Local Organizations: Palestinian Football Association, Israel Football Association, OneVoice

“Building Bridges between Austria and Palestine”
Austria, July 2006
Sponsors: Universal Peace Federation, HARP
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS: Arabic Chamber of Commerce of Vienna, Burj Al Luz Lug Social Center, East Jerusalem

“Europe Meets Middle East: Connecting Youth to Bring Change”
Israel, West Bank, January 4-11, 2007
17 participants from England
Sponsors: Universal Peace Federation-Europe, IRFF-Europe, Service For Peace-Middle East
Local Organizations: Bet Shemesh, SOS Children’s Home in Bethlehem, mayoral offices

Sports for Peace
Middle school students from 4 communities near Haifa, Israel, December 1-6, 2007
700 students from Muslim, Druze, and Christian middle schools participated in a program that promoted sportsmanship and interreligious understanding through a basketball tournament.

Global Peacemakers Project
Israel, West Bank, December 7-14, 2007
21 participants from 8 countries took part in dialogues, service activities, briefings, visiting historic and sacred sites

Italian Youth Visit Israel
Israel, West Bank, December 27, 2007 to January 3, 2008
20 young Italians took part in dialogues, service activities, briefings, visiting historic and sacred sites

Religious Youth Service and Faith Link
Israel, West Bank, February 12-24, 2008
Youth of various religious backgrounds from Austria, England, Africa, India, Turkey, and America took part in dialogues, service activities, briefings, visiting historic and sacred sites

Israelis & Palestinians Visit Italy
September 1-10, 2008
23 young Israelis and Palestinians traveled together to several cities in Italy for dialogues, home stays, and tourism

Religious Youth Service Project
December 18-22, 2013

CULTURAL PROGRAMS

“Culture of Peace” Evening
National Congress Hall, Jerusalem, September 10, 2004
SPONSOR: IIFWP, with performers David D’Or and the Ra’anana Symphony Orchestra

Exhibition of Cooperation between Peace and Love International and IIFWP in Israel
Tel Aviv, 70 participants, December 26, 2004; Jerusalem, 120 participants, December 27, 2004
SPONSORS: Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace and Peace and Love International Movement

Hebrew Version of Shi’ite Passion Play and Premiere Performance, translated by Dr. Eldad J. Pardo and Shelly Elkayam
Jerusalem, May 29, 2006
A Hebrew version of the Shi'ite Passion play, "The Martyrdom of Imam Hussein," a central component of the Iranian-Shi'ite culture. The production combined a theatrical interpretation of the Imam Hussein’s martyrdom with selections from the Hebrew scriptures and traditional writings.

CD: “Halelu,” Musical Composition by David Eaton, released July 2006
Recorded in Israel by David D’Or, Ra’anana Symphony Orchestra and members of the Philharmonia Chorus of Israel
SPONSORS: IIFWP, Artists Association for World Peace

Charitable Concerts
St. Peter’s Church, Notting Hill, England, February 26, 2006; St. Stephen’s Church, London, England, October 18, 2006
Sponsor: Universal Peace Federation-United Kingdom, with Jewish and Arab musicians from various nations.
Beneficiaries: Palestinian Youth for Non-Violent Democracy; Charities of the Bishop of Jerusalem to aid traumatized children of Palestine, Haifa and Lebanon; Bereaved Families Forum of Israel and Palestine

Holiday of Holidays in Haifa
Musical performances from a variety of cultural traditions during the annual festivities in Haifa, December 20, 2008. In addition, pairs of people from enemy nations broke symbolic “arrows of war,” signifying a commitment to peace.

CONFERENCES AND CONSULTATIONS

Middle East Peace Initiative Consultation: “Beyond Co-Existence toward a New Culture of Peace”
Washington, DC, 150 participants, February 27-March 2, 2003
Sponsor: Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP), proceedings published as a book
Follow-up briefing at the UN, May 8, 2003

Middle East Peace Initiative Consultation: “Innovative Proposals for Peace, Cooperation and Prosperity in the Middle East”
Washington, DC, June 27-29, 2003
Sponsor: IIFWP, proceedings published as a book

International Leadership Conference
Tiberias, Israel, October 29-31, 2007
10 Jewish, 10 Christian and 10 Muslim leaders from Israel; 88 Druze scholars, teachers, sheikhs, and professionals.

International Leadership Conference: "Divine Winds of Freedom: New Opportunities and New Responsibilities for the Middle East"
Istanbul, Turkey, May 6-8, 2011
Participants from throughout the Middle East

Roundtable on "The Arab Spring One Year Later"
Washington DC, USA, February 29, 2012
Forum organized by UPF's Office of Peace and Security Affairs

Conference: "Religion and Peace in the Middle East"
Jerusalem, August 26-28, 2012

Conference: "Interreligious and International Relations in the Middle East: Toward Peace and Stability"
Jerusalem, December 22, 2013

For an account of the first dialogue among Christians and Jews during the first MEPI pilgrimage to Jerusalem on May 18, 2003, click here. See also Shelley Elkayam's analysis of the impact of MEPI activities from 2003-2005.

Download a .pdf file of a booklet about the Middle East Peace Initiative

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